BUILDING MATERIALS. 79 



like the Ouincy granite of Massaclmsetts. It would make an excellent stone for orna- 

 mental pillars, especially for inside work. Most of the blocks quarried are used at Cole- 

 brook for buildings, not for cemeteries, the stone from Brunswick, Vt., along the Grand 

 Trunk Railway, supplying that want. A few years since Mr. Parsons employed from 6 

 to 8 hands constantly ; now only half that number is needed. Blocks of any size that 

 can be conveniently handled can be quarried here. There have been as yet no orders 

 for this stone from any distant locality requiring railroad transportation. The Bruns- 

 wick granite is related to that from Concord, and, being favorably situated as regards 

 transportation, is used extensively in northern New England. 



SL Johnsbury Gf-aaite Co//:pany. This concern uses granite from several localities, 

 making a specialty of monumental work. They use most extensively a biotite granite 

 from Blue mountain, Ryegate (one that cuts the Calciferous mica schist) ; and, on ac- 

 countof the strong contrast between the white feldspar and the black mica, it has a very 

 clean aspect. By leaving the letters and ornamental work raised and polished, an inter- 

 esting effect is produced, as it makes a strong contrast with the main body of the stone. 

 It receives and retains a high polish. Their gray granite comes from Brunswick, Vt. 

 They are also beginning to use a red biotite granite from Stark, the same with one that 

 has been described in the other parts of this report. It resembles somewhat the red 

 Scotch granite, but is superior to the imported article, because it is finer, and is not 

 permeated with the "pin-holes" constantly occurring in the other. This company is 

 doing a large business. They have a mill for polishing granite close by the St. Johns- 

 bury depot, using steam, and employ a large number of workmen. The use of the 

 "Conway granite" from Stark is the only known instance of the extensive employment 

 of this variety of stone from a New Hampshire locality. There is a good mass of it at 

 Biddeford, Me., that is extensively used. 



I have the following additional statements respecting the St. Johnsbury Granite Co., 

 from R. W. Laird, treasurer. The Blue mountain granite requires 2^ miles of trans- 

 portation to the railroad. It is entirely free from iron, and blocks may be quarried 

 300 to 400 feet long and ten feet square. Monuments made of the three granites 

 were exhibited at the Centennial exhibition at Philadelphia, and the red Stark stone 

 received a medal and diploma, with the following award : " For the good quality of the 

 material, the originality of design, and the workmanship of the articles exhibited." 

 80 workmen are employed in April, to be increased in the summer to 100. Monu- 

 ments are sent to every part of the country, especially the Middle states. The red 

 granite is wrought from boulders. 



Lebanon Granite. This may be taken to represent a type of granite very unlike any 

 others that have been mentioned, and it is worked at Walling's quarry in Lebanon ; at 

 Freeman's, one less extensively opened, further north in the same town; on Corey hill, 

 and other places in Hanover and Enfield. It is properly a protogene gneiss. It is a 

 heavy, massive stone, better capable of sustaining weight than the Concord variety. 

 S. H. Walling & Son do a large business, and supply the wants of Lebanon, mainly, for 

 building purposes. Stone of very large size can be obtained here. The rock is free 



